Moderator: American AAdvantage, Mexico, Technical Support and Feedback, The Suggestion Box and Talkboard Topics

Join Date: May 2000

Location: NorCal - SMF area

Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis

Posts: 60,055

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mileage Lover

Hi,

Just donated another pint on 12/29.

I'm heading to South Africa this spring and was told that Kruger National Park is on the list that will prevent me from donating for a year, That means one more pint before I leave and then a hiatus.

Bummed about the waiting period, Is it just American Red Cross that has that restriction or is that pretty universal, even though I will be taking the recommended anti-malarials?

It’s pretty common to restrict those who have been exposed to mosquitoes carrying the Plasmodium malaria parasites, particularly the P. falciparum variety, from donating blood for a period of time. It’s not the antimalarials, it’s the risk of transmitting the blood borne malaria parasite - which can essentially have a dormant stage and be asymptomatic for periods of time. And very few donation centers have the ability to screen for plasmodia.

Wish you all stay healthy enough to donate blood in 2019!
I ended 2018 by going to blood centre on new year's eve.
(In Hong Kong to encourage donation during festive season, travel scale is given out to donors.)

They have worked or lived for a total of six or more months at US Military bases in Europe.

(II) Between 1 January 1980 and the present

They have spent a total of five or more years in Europe.

They have received blood transfusion in the UK or France.

They have received bovine insulin injection.

(III) They have received pituitary derived human growth hormone or human gonadotrophin, organ or tissue transplant.(IV) Any of your blood relatives have been diagnosed of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).

OK, yes, I know that. But these are totally arbitrary numbers (3 months, 5 years). Data (via Wikipedia) suggests that 1 in 2,000 people in the UK may be carriers of something that might in very rare cases cause a problem.

I'm O- which means my blood could be used for anyone.

If I were in a situation where I needed blood and I was told that there's a 1 in 2000 chance that I might become a carrier of something which in turn has a 1 in 200 chance of giving me vCJD (rough numbers, based on 170 cases ever in the UK), or I die, then surely this isn't an issue? It's a one in 400,000 risk! I take that much risk crossing the road every year.

To date, many countries have addressed this risk by excluding blood donors with a history of travel or residence in the UK and parts of Europe, for defined cumulative exposure periods. The United States Food and Drug Administration currently requires deferral of individuals who have spent 3 months or more cumulatively in the UK between 1980 and the end of 1996, when effective measures were implemented to prevent oral transmission, or who have spent 5 years or more cumulatively in Europe between 1980 and the present. In the UK, France and Ireland, recipients of blood transfusion (including fractionated blood products) since 1980 are now permanently deferred. Other countries defer donors who have received blood transfusions in the UK or France since 1980.

and WHO recommends thatThe decision to defer blood donors with a history of travel or residence for defined cumulative exposure periods in specified countries or areas, as a measure to reduce the risk of transmitting vCJD by blood transfusion, should be based on the findings of the risk assessment and risk-benefit analysis and the impact on the blood supply

OK, yes, I know that. But these are totally arbitrary numbers (3 months, 5 years). Data (via Wikipedia) suggests that 1 in 2,000 people in the UK may be carriers of something that might in very rare cases cause a problem.

I'm O- which means my blood could be used for anyone.

If I were in a situation where I needed blood and I was told that there's a 1 in 2000 chance that I might become a carrier of something which in turn has a 1 in 200 chance of giving me vCJD (rough numbers, based on 170 cases ever in the UK), or I die, then surely this isn't an issue? It's a one in 400,000 risk! I take that much risk crossing the road every year.

The decision to cross or not to cross is yours alone. You can take whatever risk level you choose.
Entirely different if it was your responsibility to assure that others crossed the road safely.

Moderator: American AAdvantage, Mexico, Technical Support and Feedback, The Suggestion Box and Talkboard Topics

Join Date: May 2000

Location: NorCal - SMF area

Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis

Posts: 60,055

Mostly interpersonal discussion regarding risk management, the statistical data regarding vCJD etc. is dilatory to the topic. These are personal decisions, best discussed elsewhere or via PM. When it extends to overly personalized comments about other members, it’s in violation of the Rules.